Drought-tolerant varieties are required for new development

Conservation ordinance requires residential and commercial builders to install turf grass from an approved list of drought-tolerant varieties for newly constructed homes or businesses.

These approved grass varieties were chosen for their ability to survive with very little or no water for extended periods:

Bermuda

Bermuda Grass

Varieties Characteristics
  • Celebration
  • Common Bermuda
  • GN1
  • Grimes EXP
  • Tex Turf
  • TifSport
  • Tifway 419
  • Requires full sun
  • Extremely tolerant to traffic
  • Responds quickly to watering after drought
  • Requires frequent mowing to maintain its appearance
  • Frequently goes dormant during the winter

Buffalo Grass

Buffalo Grass

Varieties Characteristics
  • Currently, all varieties are approved
  • Requires full sun
  • Does NOT tolerate traffic well
  • Requires little, if any, water or fertilizer after establishment
  • Must be mowed very high, five inches or more, or not at all

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine Grass

Varieties Characteristics
  • Floratam
  • Prefers dappled shade
  • Does NOT tolerate traffic well
  • Remains green throughout the winter
  • Susceptible to fungal diseases if excessively watered during the winter

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia Grass

Varieties Characteristics
  • El Toro
  • Empire
  • Jamur
  • Palisades
  • Tolerates both sun and shade
  • Tolerates foot traffic
  • Different cultivars have different drought tolerances
  • Growth is slow as compared to Bermuda and St. Augustine

For more information on the city’s conservation ordinance, or details specifically about turf grasses, please call us at 210-704-SAVE.